NHL
AWARDS AND HONORSNHL All-Star Second Team: 1992-93 (Washington)Sporting News
All-Star Second Team: 1992-93 (Washington)Hockey News
All-Star Second Team: 1989-90 (Toronto)All-Star Game: 1988, 1990 (Toronto), 1993, 1994 (Washington)NHL Hardest-Shot Champion (SuperSkills Winner): 1990 (96.0 mph)
(first winner), 1993 (105.2 mph), 1994 (102.7)NHL Records: Hardest shot in a Superskills competition (105.2 mph on
Jan. 21, 1994, in New York's Madison Square Garden), most goals by a
defenseman in one playoff game (3 for Washington vs. N.Y. Islanders on April
26, 1993, shares record)Toronto Records: Most goals by a defenseman in one season (22 in
1987-88, shares record)Washington Records: Most goals by a
defenseman in one playoff game (3 vs. N.Y. Islanders on April 26, 1993)Toronto Playoffs Assists Leader: 1988 (4, tie)
Miscellaneous: Was first U.S.-born player ever selected by Toronto in the
first round of an NHL draft. ... Was Toronto's youngest rookie in 1984-85.
... Played left wing for Toronto at times during 1984-85 season. ... Paired
on defense with Bill Kitchen for Toronto in 1984-85. ... Missed part of
1984-85 season with bruised knee, an injury suffered during Toronto's Feb.
16, 1985, game vs. New Jersey. During this time, he contracted the flu, and
he did not return to action until Toronto's March 2, 1985, game vs. N.Y.
Islanders. ... Came to Toronto's 1985 training camp weighing 241 pounds --
20 pounds over his playing weight. The Maple Leafs held him out of their
first two preseason games, which led to a dispute between Iafrate and the
Maple Leafs coaching staff. During this time, he left the team for one day,
claiming he had to take care of a family problem. ... Missed start of 1985-86 season with fractured cheekbone, an
injury suffered in a fight during Toronto's Oct. 2, 1985, preseason game at
Buffalo. He did not make his 1985-86 NHL regular-season debut until
Toronto's Oct. 23, 1985, game vs. Pittsburgh. ... Missed part of 1985-86
season with strained neck an injury suffered during Toronto's Jan. 29, 1986,
game vs. Washington. He did not return to action until Toronto's Feb. 16,
1986, game vs. Vancouver. ... Missed remainder of 1985-86 regular season
with bruised kidney, an injury suffered during Toronto's April 1, 1986, game
at St. Louis. He did not return to action until Game 1 of Toronto's
first-round playoff series at Chicago on April 9, 1986. ... Was one of only
two Toronto players (with Wendel Clark) to play in all 93 of Maple Leafs'
regular-season and playoff games in 1986-87. ... Missed part of 1987-88
season with head injury, suffered during Toronto's Jan. 2, 1988, vs.
Buffalo. ... Missed part of 1987-88 season with sore back, an injury
suffered during Toronto's Feb. 4, 1988, game at Philadelphia. ... Was
Toronto's only representative at NHL All-Star Game in St. Louis on Feb. 9,
1988. ... Missed part of 1988-89 season with cut on hand, an injury
suffered during Toronto's Dec. 9, 1988, game at Detroit. The injury required
four stitches. ... Missed part of 1988-89 season when he left team and
returned home to Detroit on Jan. 15, 1989, to address marital and personal
problems. He was granted a formal leave of absence from the team, and did
not return to Toronto until Feb. 2, 1989. He returned to the lineup until
Toronto's Feb. 11, 1989, game vs. Philadelphia. ... Paired on defense with
Brad Marsh for Toronto in 1989-90 and 1990-91. ... Missed remainder of 1989-90 season
and entire 1990 playoffs with ruptured ACL in right knee, an injury suffered
when he became entangled with Mike Hough with 1:51 remaining in the third
period of Toronto's March 24, 1990, game at Quebec. The injury required
season-ending reconstructive surgery on April 9, 1990. ... Finished eighth among NHL
defensemen with 63 points in 1989-90. ... Was Toronto's nominee for 1989-90 Masterton Trophy. ...
Missed Toronto's 1990 training camp and start of 1990-91 season while
recovering from his April 1990 knee surgery. He did not make his 1990-91 NHL
regular-season debut until Toronto's Oct. 10, 1990, game vs. Quebec. ...
Clashed with teammate Gary Leeman during his final season in Toronto because
Leeman had taken to dating Iafrate's ex-wife. ... Missed remainder of 1990-91
regular season and start of 1991 playoffs when he took a leave of
absence due to "emotional exhaustion" on March 30, 1991. He did not return
to action until Game 2 of Washington's first-round playoff series at N.Y.
Rangers on April 5, 1991. Washington refused to elaborate on why Iafrate had
left the team, but adamantly denied that drug or alcohol abuse was involved.
... Missed part of 1991-92 season with eye injury, suffered during
Washington's Feb. 18, 1992, game at San Jose. ... Won Washington team
SuperSkills competitions for hardest shot (96 mph) and fastest skater during
1991-92 season. ... Missed remainder of 1992-93 regular season with pulled
left hamstring, an
injury suffered when he twisted to avoid being hit in the face by the puck during Washington's April 10, 1993, game
vs. New Jersey. He did not
return to action until Game 1 of Washington's first-round playoff series vs.
N.Y. Islanders on April 18, 1993. ... Scored 25 goals for Washington in
1992-93, helping Capitals (along with Kevin Hatcher and Sylvain Cote) become
first team in NHL history to have three defensemen with at least 20 goals.
... Finished second among all NHL defensemen with 25 goals in 1992-93. ...
Missed part of 1993-94 season with sprained right knee, an injury suffered
during Washington's Dec. 21, 1993, game at Philadelphia. He did not return
to action until Washington's Jan. 1, 1994, game vs. Tampa Bay. ... Missed
part of 1993-94 season with re-aggravation of right knee injury, suffered
during Washington's Jan. 1, 1994, game vs. Tampa Bay. ... Scored two goals
in his first game with Boston, on March 22, 1994, at Quebec. ... Had
off-season surgery to repair torn cartilage in his chronically injured right
knee on May 18, 1994. ... Represented by agent Rick Curran during his
playing days in Boston. ... Missed part
of 1996-97 season with broken toe, an injury suffered during San Jose's Nov.
12, 1996, game vs. Hartford. He did not return to action until San Jose's
Dec. 4, 1996, game at Dallas. ... Missed part of 1996-97 season with bruised
toe, an injury suffered during San Jose's Dec. 7, 1996, game vs. Tampa Bay.
He did not return to action until San Jose's Dec. 21, 1996, game at
Pittsburgh. ... Missed part of 1996-97 season with back injury, suffered
during San Jose's Jan. 22, 1997, game vs. Los Angeles. He did not return to
action until San Jose's Jan. 29, 1997, game at Edmonton. ... Missed
remainder of 1996-97 season with sciatic nerve damage in back, an injury
suffered during San Jose's Feb. 5, 1997, game vs. Los Angeles. The injury
required season-ending surgery on March 6, 1997. The surgery was performed
in Los Angeles by Dr. Robert Watkins. Following the surgery, Iafrate had
another operation to remove his appendix. ... Missed San Jose's entire 1997
training camp and start of 1997-98 season while recuperating from March 1997
surgery. He did not make his 1997-98 NHL regular-season debut until San
Jose's Dec. 1, 1997, game at Calgary. ... Missed part of 1997-98 season with
left knee injury, suffered during San Jose's Dec. 21, 1997, game at Anaheim.
The injury required arthroscopic surgery on Dec. 28, 1997, and Iafrete did
not return to action until San Jose's March 24, 1998, game vs. Los Angeles.
He scored a goal in that game. ... Left unprotected by San Jose for 1998 NHL Expansion Draft. He was
claimed by Nashville on June 26, 1998, but never played for Predators
because he was a Group III unrestricted free agent at the time, and the
Predators were unwilling to exercise the $1.8 million option on his contract. ... Signed
one year, $300,000 incentive-laden contract with Carolina as a Group III unrestricted free agent on July 14, 1998, but
never played for Hurricanes because he determined that his left knee could
not make it through Carolina's 1998 training camp, let alone an NHL season.
The deal would have been worth $3 million if Iafrate had been able to play
the entire 82 game schedule in 1998-99. ... Attempted brief comback during
1998-99 season, but changed mind in early January 1999, opting to remain in
retirement. ... Considered making a comeback prior to 2001-02 season, when
he contacted Carolina about coming to training camp. He was listed on
Carolina's 2001 pre-training camp roster as a free agent tryout. But nothing
actually materialized, and Iafrate remained in retirement.Major Knee Problems: Iafrate missed
the entire 1995 and 1995-96 seasons recovering from off-season surgery to
his left knee. The knee had been giving him problems throughout the 1993-94 season,
and by the end of the year, it was clear to Iafrate
that he needed surgery to repair torn cartilage. The surgery was
performed on May 18, 1994, just one week after Boston's season had ended. At
the time, it was uncertain when Iafrate would be ready to play again. At the start of training camp in 1994,
the Bruins, wanting Iafrate back in the lineup as soon as possible, asked
him to skate for five minutes so they could get a sense of how his knee was
doing. Iafrate became angry at the Bruins for suggesting he needed to skate,
and he refused to do so. He then left training camp on Sept. 10, 1994, saying he would go home
to Michigan until his knee was healed and did not care if the team paid him
or not. Boston general manager Harry Sinden said Iafrate was out of line to
suggest that the Bruins would have asked him to skate before he was ready,
but he chose not to discipline Iafrate for going home to Michigan. Within
weeks, however, a stalled labor negotiation led to the prolonged NHL lockout
of 1994-95, which left Iafrate in limbo for months. At one point, head coach
Brian Sutter was quoted in The Hockey News as saying "Only Al knows
where Al is." During the lockout, in early November 1994, Iafrate caught
another bad break, when he slipped on an exercise machine and hurt his right
knee. Although the injury was minor, it required additional surgery. Later
in November, the Bruins officially suspended Iafrate without pay, even
though as an injured player he had been entitled to his salary during the
lockout. The Bruins cited his having left the team as the reason for his
suspension. After the lockout ended, the Bruins were prepared to welcome
Iafrate back, but he instead chose not to show up, leaving the team on hold.
On Jan. 18, 1995, Iafrate met with Sinden and assistant general manager Mike
O'Connell to resolve the conflict. The sides reached a new level of
understanding, and Iafrate went back to Michigan after the meeting to
continue rehabilitating his left knee. He told the Bruins he planned to
return to Boston soon. On Jan. 31, 1994, Iafrate made his return, and the
Bruins officially ended his suspension, even though he was still undergoing
rehab and had no idea when he would be able to play again. On Feb. 6 and
Feb. 8, Iafrate skated to test his knees, but remained non-committal about a
possible return. By early March, Iafrate was skating 2-3 times per week for
periods of up to 30 minutes, and it appeared he was ready to make a
comeback. But by the end of the month, it was clear Iafrate wasn't ready to
return, and on April 4, 1995, he had season-ending arthroscopic surgery on
the right knee, which had been swelling up whenever he skated. Iafrate's
surgeon, Dr. William Clancy, said Iafrate would require at least four months
to recover and hoped he could return for the team's 1995 training camp.
Iafrate returned to Michigan in late April to being another rehabilitation
program. Despite the injury problems, Iafrate re-signed with Boston on July
20, 1995, accepting a one-year deal worth $900,000. As part of the deal,
Iafrate agreed to follow a team-ordered rehabilitation program, rather than
the self-selected one he had used the previous year. But in September 1995,
just after Boston opened it's training camp, the Bruins learned that Iafrate
had a loose piece of cartilage in his right knee. The right knee had swelled
up during two consecutive skating sessions in two days, and and MRI showed
the extent of the leftover damage in the knee. At that point, Sinden
declared that the team would have to accept the likelihood that Iafrate
would not make it back during the 1995-96 season. Some of Iafrate's
teammates even wondered if his career was over. Iafrate, however, said he
would continue his rehabilitation and vowed to come back. He also opted not
to have any further surgery. By early December 1995, the relationship
between Iafrate and the Bruins took another turn for the worse when
Iafrate's agent, Rick Curran, filed a grievance against the team, claiming
it had not paid Iafrate's salary or health insurance premiums. The Bruins
argued that Curran had no case, because the torn cartilage in Iafrate's
right knee was not hockey-related. The NHL determined that the dispute would
have to be resolved by a league arbitrator on Jan. 31, 1996. In the weeks
before the scheduled hearing, Iafrate got in trouble for damaging a shop
window during a scuffle and had to pay for the damage -- adding to the
increasingly negative image of him that was building in the media. The
hearing went ahead as scheduled on Jan. 31, but was not completed in enough
time and had to be delayed until March due to scheduling issues. Meanwhile,
Boston continued to withhold Iafrate's salary, based on the Bruins' argument
that his injury was not hockey-related. In mid-February, Iafrate skated for
the first time in months and reported no problems with his right knee. By
early March, Iafrate was practicing with the team again and appeared to be
on track for a comeback before the end of the 1995-96 season. On March 15,
1996, the NHL resumed Iafrate's grievance hearing -- just two days after the
team declared he was less than two weeks away from a return to the lineup.
However, problems with the knee continued, and the Bruins began to hope that
Iafrate would be back in time for the playoffs, if not the end of the
regular season. Iafrate continued to tell the Bruins he wasn't ready to
resume playing. Finally, just days before the playoffs, Boston coach Steve
Kasper decided it would be unwise to bring Iafrate back after such a long
absence. He also worried that Iafrate's return would affect team chemistry,
so he told Iafrate to wait until the 1996-97 season before attempting his
comeback. Iafrate, however, was set to become an unrestricted free agent,
and the Bruins had little intention of re-signing him. By the end of
Boston's playoff run, Iafrate's salary grievance was still unresolved.
Sinden told The Hockey News that the team would make Iafrate a
qualifying offer if it won the grievance, but would make no effort to keep
him if it was forced to pay out his entire 1995-96 salary. On May 20, NHL
arbitrator George Nicolau sided with Iafrate, saying the Bruins owed him his
entire $900,000 salary for 1995-96. The Bruins wanted to appeal the
decision, and it was clear they did not want to repeat their error of the
previous year by qualifying him for a new contract before the June 30, 1996,
deadline. This would enable him to become an unrestricted free agent at age
30. To avoid losing Iafrate for nothing in return, Boston traded him to San
Jose in exchange for Jeff Odgers and a 1996 fifth-round draft pick on June
21, 1996. The Sharks pledged not to rush Iafrate, who had endured seven knee
operations, back into action. That pledge was unnecessary. He made it
through training camp, and resumed his career with San Jose. On Oct. 5,
1996, he played for San Jose against the N.Y. Islanders. It was his first
NHL game since May 11, 1994. He had an assist in that game, giving San Jose
a 2-2 tie with 16 seconds left in regulation.

NON-NHL CAREER

Post-Draft Teams:
NoneWorld Championships: 1998 (12th place)NON-NHL
AWARDS AND HONORSMiscellaneous: Turned down invitation to
play for Team USA in 1987 Canada Cup. ... Hosted weekly radio
rock 'n' roll show on Washington's WXZL FM 103 during his playing days with
Capitals. ... Was an avid motorcycle rider during his playing days. ...
Worked as a hockey instructor, running clinics throughout U.S., after his
retirement.Personal: Nicknamed "Wild Thing"
and "Alley Cat."
... Full name is Albert Anthony Iafrate. ... Distant cousin of ex-NHLer Dino Ciccarelli.

HOW HE GOT AWAY

TRADE:
Toronto traded Iafrate to Washington in exchange for Bob Rouse and Peter
Zezel on January 15, 1991.

Help support the rebuilding of HDC!

HockeyDraftCentral.com is in the middle of rebuilding. You are
looking at a page that is not yet updated but is still part of the old site.
Find out how you can help make this an even better site by bidding on eBay
auctions.• Learn More